ISU travels to Iowa City to take on No. 3 Iowa

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State wrestling team (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) will travel to Iowa City on Saturday to take on instate rival No. 3 Iowa (6-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at 7:30 p.m. in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Saturday night's dual will be a part of the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, which Iowa State currently leads, 9-2.
"It's a great environment to compete in," Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. "We will embrace the challenge. This dual always informs us where we are at early in the season."

The Hawkeyes come into the match with a 6-0 dual record, including a 3-0 mark at home after defeating SIUE (49-0), Cornell College (49-3) and Iowa Central CC (45-6) in the Iowa City Duals on Nov. 24. The Hawkeyes' lineup features eight ranked wrestlers, including two that are No. 1 in their respective weight classes in Matt McDonough (125) and Derek St. John (157).

A number of notable matches will feature ranked wrestlers from each squad. At 125 pounds, No. 19 Ryak Finch will face top-ranked McDonough as he looks to bounce back after losing a 5-4 decision to No. 17 Jerome Robinson of Old Dominion in the Cyclones' season opening dual.

Other hotly contested matches are expected at 141 pounds between Iowa State's No. 18 Luke Goettl and No. 13 Mark Ballweg of Iowa, as well as at 184 pounds where No. 16 Boaz Beard will face No. 8 Ethen Lofthouse. Beard, of Iowa State, is 1-0 on the season and is coming off a 10-2 major decision victory over Old Dominion's Austin Coburn. Lofthouse is currently 5-0.

At 285, reigning Big 12 heavyweight champion Matt Gibson is ranked No. 16 by Intermat and will wrestle Iowa's Bobby Telford, currently ranked No.5. Gibson will look to build on his 4-3 win over Old Dominion's Matt Tourdot.

Who: Iowa State (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 4 Iowa (6-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Where: Iowa City, Iowa - Carver Hawkeye Arena
When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
TV: Mediacom
Live stats: Live stats will be available at www.trackwrestling.com
Live blog: Join in on a virtual press row for Sunday's meet with an interactive live blog put on by members of the Iowa State athletics communications department. Fans are encouraged to participate by asking questions on